By Abiola Olawale
The 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has stirred national conversation by advocating for a fundamental shift in how Nigeria views and manages the skills of its infamous internet fraudsters, popularly known as ‘Yahoo Boys.’
Obi, a two-term governor of Anambra State, described Yahoo boys as “creative, courageous geniuses” who he said require redirection, not outright condemnation.
He argued that their ingenuity, if properly harnessed, could be a powerful engine for national innovation and growth.
Speaking at the Golden Health Conference held at the Archbishop Patterson Auditorium, All Saints’ Cathedral, Onitsha, Obi who condemned the criminal acts of cybercrime, suggested that the very skills required to successfully execute international financial frauds—such as technical savvy, strategic thinking, persuasive communication, and a daring, entrepreneurial spirit—are attributes that a developing nation desperately needs.
“I told the youths that some of our so-called Yahoo boys are geniuses who need redirection, not condemnation,” Obi said.
“Their creativity and courage, if properly guided, can drive innovation and national development. Our challenge is to channel their energy from deception to productive enterprise.
“The event addressed a vice that has eroded our values — the greed for material possessions.
“While money is important, it is only a fragment of true wealth, which rests on integrity, character, and purpose.”
Obi emphasised that true wealth uplifts both the individual and society. “Real wealth promotes education, reduces poverty, and creates opportunities for others to live dignified lives.
“Leadership must lead by example, for a nation that rewards dishonesty cannot build integrity,” he said.
Urging Nigerian youths to rediscover the dignity of labour and embrace hard work, Obi said nations are not built by miracles but by “men and women who think, work, and build.”
He also stressed the need for fairness and merit as the foundation of Nigeria’s progress.
“No religion or tribe buys bread cheaper than another. Nigeria is blessed with abundant resources; what we lack is the will to do what is right,” he added.
